Loss. [Action | Front Gate]

[haha_steelguard]

[Not wanting to suck the life out of the quad and not feeling up to training, Snow had found himself a seat on one of the raised planters that held a few small trees and some decorative plants, out past the ID checkpoint in the landscaped area. There he sat, hands on his knees, head bowed, and thought

Comments

[focusedfate]

[Cid had been walking through the lobby when a figure caught his eye outside past the front gates. Upon walking closer, he noticed the all-too-familiar trench coat and black bandanna.

The pose, however, was entirely unfamiliar.

Approaching slowly, Cid drew nearer before coming to a stop several feet away from the other. He waited a moment and then spoke, voice quiet.]

Snow?

[haha_steelguard]

[He looks up, then smiles -- genuinely, if not effortlessly.]

Hey, Cid. How're you getting along here?

[focusedfate]

Quite well, thank you. [He maintains a respectful distance, but his eyebrows do rise a little.]

And yourself?

[He may not know Snow as well as the other l'Cie, but it doesn't exactly take a genius to realize the other isn't himself.]

Aaand apologies for the question that demands headcanon.

[haha_steelguard]

Do you have any family, Cid?

[It's a phrasing that comes easily to an orphan, who doesn't take for granted the notion that everyone has a family in some way.]

[potionemperor]

Sir..?

[Larsa approaches with an air of hesitation, unsure of whether the large man is hurt or sad. Perhaps it's both, Larsa can't be too sure. Good thing for him he has some extra Hi-Potions handy!]

[haha_steelguard]

[He lifts his head, then with what seems like serious effort, straightens his back to sit up properly. The smile he dredges up costs less strength; smiling comes easy to Snow, even at the worst times.]

[potionemperor]

Pardon my intrusion, is everything alright?

[haha_steelguard]

Just a --

[How does he even describe it? He makes vague motions with his hands, trying to think of words, then settles on some honestly lame ones.]

Time compression thing.

[faterelay]

[It takes a while to find Snow, because he's not in any of the places she thinks to look. Thankfully asking some random cadets about him proves to be useful and soon she's standing not too far away.

Serah can't remember the last time she saw him looking like that. Frankly, she's not sure if she's ever seen him looking like that.

Does that mean he knows? Silently she walks over to sit next to him, scooting over so that she can lean against him reassuringly while placing her hand on his leg lightly. Just to further remind him that she's here for him.]

[haha_steelguard]

[She's not getting away that easily. He reaches out to slide an arm around her and pull her up into his lap.]

[His other arm slips around her as he leans his head against hers, breath warm in her hair and the back of her neck. Tension and sadness drain out of him in a rush. Not entirely, not perfectly, but Serah makes everything better. And the sigh he breathes out isn't perfectly happy, but at least partially so.]

[focusrelay]

[Don't worry, it's not like she has any plans for getting away to begin with.

Settling into his lap, Serah smiles softly as she leans back against Snow with a sigh that sounds suspiciously like the one her fiancé just made. Being together always makes things a little better. Not perfect, but better.

Finally Serah breaks the silence between them.]

It's like she's a different person.

[haha_steelguard]

I forgot... well, I didn't forget how much she used to hate me. But I didn't realize it'd hurt so much.

[Snow hasn't made the connection yet; after all, despite some confusing things Lightning had said to him, the anger and hostility she'd shown him were nothing new.]

[bunnypassingby]

[Out for a jog around the campus, Mikuru spots one of her favorite instructors, but his posture isn't anything she'd ever expected from him.

[He has helped her with something serious; maybe she can return the favor. She jogs towards him and, stopping at his side, places a sympathetic hand on his shoulder.]

[haha_steelguard]

[Snow looks up at that, then offers Mikuru a smile.]

Hey there. How's the hero business treating you?

[bunnypassingby]

[She returns that smile warmly.]

Pretty good so far; I'm getting there.

[This question, though, is a little more serious:] I hope life's treating you well?

[haha_steelguard]

Time compression is rough.

[A true if understated answer, but he doesn't feel too great about opening up to the students... or anyone, really. Doubt, hesitation, fear... aren't things a hero shows.]

PRETEND THIS ISN'T 7 YEARS LATE

[brightsiding]

[ Vanille had been wanting to talk to... Well, everyone from the moment she'd spotted Lightning walking through the halls, and had spoken to her to not-so-great effect. Things had gotten a little insane around here, recently, but she finally had her chance to look around and find everyone- and she was going to take it. She may not have gotten another one for a while. ]

[ Despite how unmistakable he usually was, Snow had been hard to find. She wasn't about to give up until she'd combed every part of the Garden- twice, if she had to. It was with luck that she spotted him outside the front gate. ]

[ Her heart dropped, seeing him like that. Lightning's attitude had been tough on her, too, but to see what was obviously his reaction to it was... Well, heart-wrenching. She was scared of what was to come, but she swallowed her uncertainties, approaching him. ]

Ah... Hi.

It's like a day after I posted it! That's not 7 years!

[haha_steelguard]

[His smile is wan but genuine and unforced as he looks up at her. He'd always seen Vanille as a bright spot in his days, after all. (So, good work on hiding all that angst and heartbreak around Snow, is the message here.)]

Hey.

You met her too, huh?

[He makes a 'have a seat' motion.]

... seven years.

[brightsiding]

[ She does take a seat, right beside him. ]

... Uh huh.

[ She bites her lip, glancing over to him, not sure what to say. ]

She said some weird stuff...

Seven days?

[haha_steelguard]

She probably didn't even recognize you, huh.

[Snow is still under the impression that Lightning has come prior to her own branding; he doesn't understand, hasn't even guessed yet, what's going on.]